Alright, at teh bottom of the turn, you guys move on, so look there after you look at your own stuff.
Ask the fluffy handlers if I can ride one? If they say no then I won't try it but I mean Id really like too ya know?
They don't mind. There's a mount seat up between their first set of shoulders, and another between their second set of shoulders, so riding seems to be a thing that is done, at least sometimes. Anyway, Kongor boosts you up and puts you on one's neck just behind it's head - forward of the mounted seat. You're small so if you sit on your knees and hold onto the thick fur you'll be fine. The world looks different from way up here, and sways and bumps a bit. The animals' fur gives off a different less musky and more woody scent than Kongor does. It's stronger too, but not overpowering. It's part of the mix of smells you guys experienced on coming into this area.
((good luck out there. See ya in a couple weeks))
Sssshhh oz. Shhhhh that's to worry about once back at base.
Anyways play dress up with freddy and ready to go
You get Freddie all bootied and hatted and coated. The coat is hardest because of his wings, but you manage. It actually has wing cover that you can strap down close to his body to keep them warm as well. You gonna start with his wings strapped in close or let them hang loose?
what do you need?
"U-um... some more warmer clothes, please? Maybe, ah, some armour what I can fit under 'em? Not sure where we're goin' or why, but 'pparently it's real cold."
Thrips makes his vague request to the as-yet-undefined person at the desk, shrugs, and bites determinedly into the lump of food he brought from the cafeteria.
Attempt to acquire cold-weather gear! Maybe also some armour that could work with it!
Snack while I wait, and if I am provided with adequate gear, say my thank-yous and head to my quarters to get dressed for action.
Five coin for a full set of cold weather gear, five for armor. The armory attendant idly brushes the crumbs from your snack off his desk.
((I kinda took this as meaning I'd already made those purchases, but in hindsight you didn't actually say that. No idea how many coins I have, can I afford the cold weather gear at least?))
you made them if you have enough. For the sake of "eh, whatever" we're gonna say you had enough for those purchases and nothing more, since you don't have any funds listed on your sheet.
Bring up the rear of the group.
(I'm assuming someone dressed Freddie already, because he can't dress himself.)
You tag along until you allk get to the big ol magic circle in the field. The circle and it's runes are made of stone. Mostly it's a light grey stone, smooth and without aggregate in it. but some of the runes are a black stone and others are quartz and granite-like - bits of sparkly and bits of aggregate. The whole Circle tingles your senses a bit, like trying to drink carbonated water out of a waterfall. Anyway, everyone else enters the circle and arranges themselves, and you've experienced vaguely similar tingles without harm before, so, with it of prodding, you go in the circle too. You have booties, a fluffy kniot cap, and a big ol blanket-like coat with wing holes. there are flaps that cover your wings if they are tucked against your body, and those flaps can be strapped down for added warmth but restricted mobility. You and spaz can decide if they are strapped or not.
Walk to the magic ring and sit, awaiting transportation.
The handlers stop you before you enter the circle and order you onto all fours. They then direct you, limb by limb, on entering the circle so as to prevent damage to the transportation ring. They are quite particular about it and this takes some time. Something about not crushing the sigils or something.
stick with the group and try to GENTLY pet one of the animals
Teh animals are significantly bigger than you, like a large horse or an elephant would be to a smallish adult human, so you don't need to be super cautious about patting them - they won't break. Anyway, you gently pat one of them. Gwen looks up at it, rapt, and after asking the handlers if she could ride it, looks up at you expectantly, eyes wide with hope. You pick her up and plop her onto the beast behind the head. It kinda rears its head up a little, and snuffs at you. A second animla kinda pushes against you with it's nose and forehead, enough to make you move forward a step. They're pretty strong, it seems.
I'm good to go
You enter the circle and watch carefully as the animals are led in and Bruford the giant heavy chunk of iron is carefully navigated into position such that he is not actually putting weight on any of the stones that make up the sigils or circle. You file that information away in your mind hole, aware that you will likely not have as much help for the ride home.
When everyone is arranged, the handlers step back, and a set of thin, clear creatures with helical limbs undulate out of a copse of trees, flowing forward and dividing around the edge of the Circle, each stopping as they reach a designated point. The observant among you notice that they are not evenly spaced. The rationale behind their arrangement eludes you, however, and before you can give it much thought, a clear, shimmering white light flashes up from the edge of the Circle, rising high into the air above you, forming a translucent cylinder around you, like a shiny soap bubble. And much like a soap bubble, it lingers a moment, then wavers, then pops, splitting into a thousand short-lived stars and tiny little bubbles which flow around you before wining out of existence. As soon as the bubble pops, the world goes bright white and frigid. Those of you who have breath see it come out of you as thick white fog, and when you breathe in it stings your nose, throat and lungs. Through the sunglare on the ice all around you, at first you see nothing but the blue of the sky and the vague outlines of enormous mountains surrounding you. You are at the top of a long, winding valley, and it is ice and snow covered and white as far as you can see. Once your eyes start to adjust - those of you who have eyes - you notice brightly colored flecks several hundred yards up the valley. Must be the base camp you are to start from.
Every one of you feels the cold in one way or another. Every one of you suffers some discomfort from the stinging brightness as well.